Swimming Pool Blog

Have you had a pool and it is starting to look dull in your back yard? Is you pool system more that 10 years old? Or have you just been thinking of upgrading to make pool care easier for you? If you said yes to any of these now is the best time to take action. In this article I will tell you way now is the time and give you an inside look into the pool industry.

We all know the economy is not looking as good as it has in the past. Banks are not lending money like they used to. Home sales are down. New home construction is at an all time low. With all this said, the pool industry is hurting bad. New pool construction has dropped to a 20 year low. Many pool construction companies are feeling the pinch in a big way. Many have shut their doors, others are downsizing staff and dropping services they provide as a result.

What does that mean for you, you might ask? Big savings! Many companies that are big enough to still be in business are offering lower construction rates, to keep the jobs coming in. Others just want to keep the experienced staff they have had for many years in this slow economic time. Here in the Washington DC area the cost to put in a pool has dropped by about 15% to 40% in the past 2 years depending on who you talk to. Anyone that has some money and have had their pool on their mind now should take advantage of the situation for big savings.

Here are some helpful hints to save money and get quality workmanship.

1Get multiple quotes from a few companies to find the lowest price.

2Check references, the Better Business Bureau, and see if you can go by one of their jobs to look at workmanship. Are they Licensed, Insured and Bonded? Get copies of all of these documents.

3See if you can supply equipment. Ordering pumps, filters, cleaners and control systems online will save you the mark ups builders add on.

4Hire a swimming pool adviser; this is someone in the pool industry that is not associated with the builder. They help design and check up on the work to make sure things are done right and to contract specifications. (very helpful and can save you a lot on unneeded equipment.)They do this for a low cost too.

5Go over the contract with a fine toothed comb before signing (yes, might be long and we all hate to read that stuff). Ask yourself: Are there any extra fees? What about subcontractor used? Time table for completion? What are you responsible for?

If you have had bids in the past try to resubmit them, you may be surprised at the price change for pool work at this time.